Pipe clamp



1953 L. DEUTSCH ET AL 2,649,640

PIPE CLAMP Filed Feb. 17, 1950 INVENTORS 100/5 OEUrJrH Patented Aug. 25, 1953 PIPE CLAMP Louis Deutsch, Dearborn, and Edgar C. Busch, Detroit, Mich.

Original application February 3, 1949, Serial No. 74,397. Divided and this application February 17, 1950, Serial No. 144,822

1 Claim. (01. 24-249) This invention relates to locking devices generally and more particularly to a quick acting lock especially adapted for use on holding fixtures of the type disclosed in patent application, Serial Number 74,397, now abandoned, filed February 3, 1949, and of which this is adivision.

An object of the invention is to provide a quick acting and positive lock for tubular or rod members.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an effective lock for tubular or rod members that is sturdy, strong and inexpensive to produce.

Additional objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent after a thorough consideration of the detailed description composed with reference to the accompanying drawing constituting a part of the application, and in which:

Fig. 1 is an enlarged plan view of the lock comprising the applicants invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged elevation view of the lock in Fig. 1, showing the operating handle in a closed position.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section view taken substantially on plane 33 in Fig. 2 showing the structural details of the locking mechanism.

Fig. 4 is a vertical section view taken substantially on plane 4-4 in Fig. 2 showing additional structural details and illustrating a slight modification of the invention.

For a detailed description of the invention reference is made to Fig. 1 of the drawings in which numeral designates a flexible collar welded or otherwise secured to a tubular support ll, only partially shown, and sleeved around a tubular member l2. The collar ID has a longitudinal split l3 and a pair of axially spaced alternately disposed interlocking fingers l4 and i6 welded or otherwise secured to the collar on each side of the split l3.

The secured end of the fingers I4 and [6 are shaped to the contour of the collar l0, and terminate on the opposite end in oppositely disposed upstanding feet I8 and respectively. Openings 22 and 24 are provided in opposite ends of the feet 20 and 18 respectively for the selective reception of a pivot pin 26 provided in one end of an operating lever 28. A bevel face 39 is provided adjacent the lower edge of the operating lever 28 and adapted to enter into a wedging action against the inside surface of the upstanding feet l8 and 20 in a manner to be explained later.

A slight modification of the lock is shown in Fig. 4. In this embodiment the inner surface of the collar is provided with an annular array of axially disposed spaced serrations 32, to provide additional gripping effort should it be deemed necessary on any particular installation.

This completes the description relating to the structural details of the applicants invention; however, to facilitate a more thorough understanding of the invention, a discussion will now be directed to the manner in which the device operates so as to perform its intended function.

In operation, the lever 28 is raised to the broken line position 34, shown-in Fig. 2, so as to unlock the tubular member 12.

After the tubular member l2 has been positioned as desired, the operating lever 28 is moved downward toward the solid line position shown in Fig. 2. In moving to this position, the bevel face 30, on the operating lever 28 makes contact with the inner surface of the outstanding foot 20 and inaugurates a wedging action thereby forcing the feet [8 and 20 apart.

This separation of the upstanding feet If; and 20 reduces the internal diameter of the split collar l0, so as to produce a grip on the tubular member [2 thereby looking it against any movement. When it is again desired to unlock the tubular member 12 it may be done by the simple expedient of elevating the operating lever 28 to the broken line position 34.

Should the nature of the installation prevent convenient manipulation of the operating lever 28 in the location shown in Fig. 2, it may be reversed to the broken line position 36. This reversal in position is accomplished by lifting the operating lever 28 to a substantially vertical position and moving it laterally so as to disengage the pin 26 from the opening 24 provided in the other upstanding foot 20.

The operation of the lock, with the lever 28 in this position, is identical with that described for the alternate position with but one exception, namely, that the bevel face 36 engages the inner surface of the other upstanding foot It to initiate the locking action of the collar It on the tubular member [2.

From the foregoing discussion, it is evident that the applicants invention makes possible the realization of all the extravagant objectives set forth in the introduction of the specification. While the invention has been described with reference to the details of a particular embodiment, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art 3 that the principles involved are susceptible of numerous other applications.

Therefore, what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A lock comprising a collar having a split therethrough with substantially abutting edges, at least three upstanding feet attached to the collar adjacent the abutting edges, such feet being attached in a substantially opposed relationship and adapted to extend across the split in the" collar so that the opposed feet overlap each other on opposite sides of the split and an operator lever, having a beveled portionthereon, pivoted on one of the feet and adapted for movement therebetween so that the beveled portion will produce a spreading action betwe'en such feet;

LOUIS DEUTSCH. EDGAR C. BUSCH.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Nersinger May 9, 1882 Welshans Oct. 22, 1913 Peck Jan. 11, 1916 Miller 1\[Iay6, 1930 Gerow et a1 Dec. 30, 1930 Stupar et a1 Oct. 11, 1932 Somers Oct. 18, 1932 Malleville May 23, 1933 Hibner, Jr Jan. 26, 1937 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain of 1902 

